Study of Carbon Monoxide Production from a Multi-Hundred Watt Fuel Sphere Assembly

摘要

The rate of CO production from a multi-hundred watt fuel sphere assembly was measured as a function of time and temperature in vacuum and helium atmospheres. The generation of CO was shown to be retarded by the presence of helium gas and by continued fuel reductions. Measurements of the exchange rate of isotopically enriched CO with the fuel oxygen indicated that the vents do not restrict the CO production. A small quantity of unidentified second phase was observed in the plutonia microstructure. Based on the results of this study, a cyclic CO/CO sub 2 mechanism is proposed as the source of the CO produced. (ERA citation 05:031723)